Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs August 23 & 24 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates 7 Projects worth Rs.427.80 Crore at Paradip Port in Odisha
In August 2026, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), inaugurated seven major infrastructure projects valued at Rs 427.80 crore at Paradip Port Authority (PPA) in Paradip, Odisha.

• The event also witnessed the signing of concession agreements for three mechanisation projects worth Rs 1,580.36 crore aimed to further boost Paradip’s capacity, efficiency and cargo-handling capabilities.

Key Details:
Key Infrastructure Project: The newly inaugurated projects cover areas like: navigation, connectivity, safety, sustainability, residential infrastructure and community development.
Key Projects: The Capital Dredging Project (Rs 352 crore), Atharbanki Second New Bridge (Rs 24.89 crore), PNG (Piped Natural Gas) Supply Project (Rs 20 crore), and Advanced Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) (Rs 15.50 crore).

• Some of the other key projects inaugurated: sports hostel (Rs 2.10 crore); upgradation of administrative office building (Rs 12.18 crore), executed by NBCC (India) Ltd. ( formerly National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited); and plantation of  one-millionth tree at port, marking a major milestone in the port’s plantation and green-cover initiatives.

About Mechanisation Projects: The Mechanisation Projects include: 5 Million Tonne Per Annum (MTPA) South Quay mechanisation project (Rs 498.69 crore); 8 MTPA Multipurpose Berth mechanisation project (Rs 630.67 crore); 10 MTPA captive CQ-III mechanisation project (Rs 451 crore).

DGFT Eased Rupee invoicing rules for exporters under FTP
In August 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), eased rules for rupee-based export transactions, providing Indian exporters greater flexibility to invoice overseas sales and receive payments in Indian Rupee (INR) or foreign currencies.

• The relaxation was provided through amendment of certain provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP 2023), aligning with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023.

Key Changes:
Flexibility in Export Contracts: As per the revised FTP, export contracts and invoices for countries outside the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), may now be denominated in any foreign currency or INR.
Exceptions: The DGFT has clarified that eligible rupee payments for exports to any other country except Nepal and Bhutan, will now qualify to avail the benefits of FTP  and count towards fulfilment of export obligations.
Special Inclusion: Further, exports financed through Export Import Bank of India (EXIM) Bank or the Government of India (GoI) lines of credit  may also be invoiced in INR.

VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Inaugurates ‘MALHAR 2026’ in New Delhi
In August 2026, Vice President (VP) of India C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated ‘MALHAR 2026’, a youth-centric monsoon-themed celebration of Indian classical music, organised by Antar Hriday Connect in New Delhi, Delhi.
About MALHAR 2026:
Objective: It is a cultural programme dedicated to showcasing India’s classical music traditions and celebrating its diverse artistic heritage, while providing a platform for classical musicians, traditional performers, and music enthusiasts.
Activities: MALHAR 2026 featured a diverse range of competitions and performances, including classical and contemporary music, dance, theatre, and literary events.
Participation: The event witnessed wide participation from educational institutions, cultural groups, and emerging artists representing different regions of India.
Malhar Raga: A classical music tradition associated with the monsoon season (Varsha Ritu) and linked to the legendary 16th-century court musician Tansen.

MYAS to Establish National Coach Accreditation Board to Standardise Coaching in India
In August 2026, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) announced plans to establish a National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) to standardise coaching quality and enhance India’s sports ecosystem, as recommended by a task force led by Pullela Gopichand.

• It was announced by Union Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MYAS, during the 63rd Governing Body Meeting of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) held in New Delhi, Delhi.

About National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB):
Role: The Board will function as the apex authority responsible for setting standards, approving pathways, accrediting institutions, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Proposed Composition: The NCAB is proposed to include the President of the Indian Olympic Association(IOA), the Sports Secretary, a nationally eminent person with cross-ministerial influence, and an academic expert in pedagogy and education systems.
Other Initiative : Two-stage Talent Scouting System (TSS) to build a National Talent Repository (NTR), along with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-supported expansion of sports academies and athlete development
About SAI: Established in 1984 under the MYAS, headquartered in New Delhi, with Hari Ranjan Rao as its Director General (DG).

MoRD Launches National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II Under DAY-NRLM 
In August 2026, the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) launched the National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) for three months from 21 August to 21 November 2026 to promote rural women entrepreneurship and support the vision of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis.

• The launch coincided with World Entrepreneurs Day (21 August), observed globally.

About National Campaign on Entrepreneurship-II:
Focus: The campaign promotes farm & non-farm enterprises, strengthens Self-Help Group (SHG) women entrepreneurship, supports enterprise formalisation, digital adoption, and producer groups.

• Community Resource Persons for Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EPs) and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) will be recognised as “Udyam Sakhis”, while market access will be expanded through Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

Targets: It aims to orient 50,000 community cadres, train 5 lakh SHG women, formalise 50,000 enterprises, add 2 lakh producer group members, promote agro-ecological practices among 20 lakh women, and onboard 25,000 SHG members on e-commerce platforms.
Sankalp Shakti:During the event, Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, launched ‘Sankalp Shakti’, the first Rural Enterprise Technical Bulletin, focusing on Lakhpati Didis’ empowerment and enterprise development.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India-Singapore Strengthen Partnership in Semiconductors, Digital Payments & Green Energy 
In August 2026, India and Singapore reinforced their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) during the 4th India–Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) held in Singapore by expanding cooperation across sectors such as semiconductors, digital connectivity, fintech, healthcare, green economy, food security, and advanced manufacturing.

• The Roundtable was attended by key ministers from both countries, including Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance(MoF) and Ministry of Corporate Affairs, MoCA; Union Minister S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA); Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, MoCI; Union Minister of State(MoS) Jitin Prasada, MoCI and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology(MeitY), along with their Singaporean counterparts.

About India-Singapore Partnership: 
Cooperation:  India and Singapore expanded collaboration in semiconductors, digital payments, fintech, green hydrogen, sustainable shipping, and clean energy to promote innovation and sustainable development.

• Both countries explored cooperation in semiconductors, space technology, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and cybersecurity.

Initiatives:  Key initiatives include the Green Lane Initiative for Semiconductors, green hydrogen supply chain development, the 4th Singapore-India Hackathon (15–17 November 2026) in Singapore, and the Singapore Business Federation office in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Key Outcome: The ministers also witnessed the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one Letter of Intent (LoI).

India Signed Two Key Agreements with Mauritius, including 5-year Petroleum Supply Pact inked by Indian Oil
In August 2026 the Government of India (GoI) signed two key agreements, including a Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on oil and gas cooperation; and petrol supply agreement, with the Government of Mauritius, aimed at strengthening energy cooperation between the two countries.

• These strategic agreements were signed during the Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) visit to Mauritius from August 20 to 21, 2026.

Key Details of Agreements:
G2G MoU: The MoU was signed by India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri and Mauritius’s Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection John Michael Tzoun Sao Yeung Sik Yeun in Mauritius.

• The newly signed MoU establishes a comprehensive framework spanning several segments of the energy value chain.

Sales and Purchase Agreement: In addition, state-owned Indian Oil Corporation  (IOC)signed a 5-year agreement with the State Trading Corporation (STC) of Mauritius for assured supply of petroleum products including petrol, diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to Port Louis, capital city of Mauritius.
India’s Petroleum Sector: India is the 4th largest refiner and a major exporter of petroleum products in India, with a capacity of around 258 Million Tonnes (MT).

• The GoI has set the target of boosting national refining capacity to over 309 MT annually by 2032.

BANKING & FINANCE

ADB Approves USD 230 Million for Chennai Water Supply Upgrade; Rs.1,750 Crore Loan to Karnataka
In August 2026, the Government of India (GoI) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a USD 230 million (Mn) loan agreement to modernise and expand water supply and sanitation across Chennai, TamilNadu (TN).

• Also, the ADB and Karnataka government signed a loan agreement Rs 1,750 crore (Cr) to fund the upgradation of government schools.

About Water Supply Project in TN:
Signed By: The loan documents were signed by Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, on behalf of the multilateral lender.
First Indian City: Chennai will also become the first Indian city to implement a comprehensive ring-main water supply system. 
About Karnataka Schools Upgradation Project:
Signed by: The agreement was signed at Vidhana Soudha in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister (CM) G. Parameshwara, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, Additional Chief Secretary of the School Education and Literacy Department Rashmi Mahesh.
Time Period: The four-year project, scheduled until 2029–30, aims to expand infrastructure and learning facilities while providing free, quality education from LKG to Class 12 on a single campus at each KPS, with a capacity of at least 1,200 students per school.

Razorpay Introduces Multi-Currency EEFC Settlement Facility for Exporters 
In August 2026, Razorpay, an omnichannel payments platform for businesses, Introduced the Multi-Currency Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency (EEFC) Account to enable exporters and international businesses to retain earnings in foreign currencies and manage global payments efficiently without immediate conversion into Indian Rupees (INR).

• The solution aims to help exporters reduce foreign exchange (forex/FX) conversion costs and gain greater control over their international earnings

About Razorpay Multi-Currency EEFC Account Launch:
Account:  The facility is offered in partnership with RBL Bank and supports settlements in United States Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), British Pound Sterling (GBP), United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED), and Singapore Dollar (SGD).
Benefits: The solution helps exporters reduce foreign exchange costs, improve cash flow, and simplify cross-border payments by enabling foreign currency retention and efficient conversion management.
Banking Requirement: Businesses must maintain an active EEFC account with an RBI-authorised bank to use the facility.
About Razorpay:  Razorpay, founded in 2014 by Harshil Mathur and Shashank Kumar, is a Bengaluru(Karnataka) based fintech company providing payment and financial technology solutions to businesses.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Cochin Shipyard Limited Delivered INS Mangrol, 3rd ASW-SWC to IN
In August 2026, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) successfully delivered Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mangrol, the 3rd of the 8th indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs), to the Indian Navy (IN) at its Kochi facility (in Kerala).

• The delivery protocol was signed by Dr. Harikrishnan S., Director (Operational), CSL and Commander U Sharan Kumar, Commanding Officer (Designate).

About INS Mangrol:
Name Inspired from: The vessel name ‘Mangro’ draws its inspiration from the historic, strategically significant coastal township of Mangrol located in Surat district, Gujarat.
Designed by: The newly delivered naval ship is indigenously designed and built by CSL, in accordance with the classification rules of Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
Key Components: The new vessel, powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion system,  is equipped with the state-of-the-art systems, including lightweight torpedoes, indigenous ASW rockets and advanced shallow-water SONARs, among others.

• These components significantly improve the vessel’s capability to detect, and counter any underwater threats in shallow coastal waters.

Local Content: It boasts nearly 80% indigenous content, marking another milestone in indigenous warship construction supporting the Government of India’s (GoI)’s  ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat(Self-Reliance)’ initiative.

Indian defence Start-up D-Propulse Successfully Demonstrated India’s first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing RDE
In August 2026, Indian defence propulsion startup D-Propulse Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. successfully demonstrated India’s 1st indigenously developed 5 kilo-Newton (kN) air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) integrated with an aerospike nozzle at Defence Development Research Organisation (DRDO) test facility (Hyderabad, Telangana),  achieving  a significant milestone in the country’s advanced propulsion capabilities by validating Technology Readiness Level-5 (TRL-5).
Key Details of 5 kN Air-breathing RDE:
Technology: Unlike traditional jet engines, RDEs  use pressure-gain combustion which improves thermodynamic efficiency and eliminates moving parts inside the combustor, which further results in a simple engine architecture.
Significance: The new RDE offers 15-25% higher thermodynamic efficiency compared to conventional air-breathing propulsion systems and relies on precision machining rather than turbine complex turbine assemblies which is expected to lower production costs and reduce manufacturing timelines.
Schedule for: The newly demonstrated RDE, incubated at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), is scheduled to be launched by December 2027.
About D-Propulse: Founded in July 2025 by V Ramanujachari and Saurav Jha, D-Propulse, with headquarters in New Delhi (Delhi), builds next-generation RDEs for high-supersonic and hypersonic flight.

OBITUARY

Legendary Actress Padma Shri Sowcar Janaki Passed Away at 94
In August 2026, veteran Indian actress Sankaramanchi Janaki, popularly known as “Sowcar Janaki“, passed away at the age of 94 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN). Born on 12 December 1931 in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh (AP), she was widely recognised for her versatility and portrayal of diverse characters across multiple languages.

• In 2022, Janaki was conferred with Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of India from the Government of India (GoI) in the field of Art for her contributions to Indian cinema.

About Sowcar Janaki:
Profile: She was one of the most prominent actresses in Indian cinema, with a career spanning over seven decades and notable contributions to Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films.
Career: She made her film debut at the age of 18 with the landmark Telugu drama Shavukaru (1950), which earned her the prefix “Sowcar” to her name.

• Over her career, she appeared in more than 400 feature films and performed in over 300 theatrical stage productions.

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, Convicted in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots, Passes Away
In August 2026, former Indian National Congress(INC) Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar, convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, passed away at the age of 80 in New Delhi, Delhi. He was born on 23 September 1945 in Delhi.
About Sajjan Kumar:
Political Career: He started his political career by joining the INC and was later elected  a councilor to the Municipal Corporation (MC) of Delhi in 1977.
Parliamentary Career: He was elected 3-times as MP in Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament)  i.e. for the 1st time in 1980 from Outer Delhi constituency; then in  1991 and 2004.
Double Convictions: In December 2018, the Delhi High Court (HC) sentenced life imprisonment to Kumar in a case related to the killing of 5 Sikhs and burning of Gurdwara during the anti-Sikh riots

• Later, in February 2025, Delhi court convicted him in another case relating to the killing of two Sikh men during the riots.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 2026  – August 22
The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief on 22 August each year to condemn violence and terrorism against individuals targeted for their religion or beliefs.
Background:
Resolution: On 28 May 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/73/296, declaring 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
First Observance: The day was first observed on 22 August 2019.
Provisions on Religion-Based Violence: The UNGA resolution emphasizes victim support, promotion of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, expansion of human rights education to combat intolerance and hate crimes, and reaffirmation of states’ responsibility to protect the rights of religious minorities.

STATE NEWS

Himachal Pradesh Sign MoU With ISB to Unlock Rs.22,600 Crore Forest Economy Potential
In August 2026, the Himachal Pradesh (HP) Forest Department signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB-BIPP) to unlock the state’s estimated Rs. 22,600 crore untapped forest and pastoral economy potential through science and technology-enabled governance.

• The MoU was signed by Dr Sanjay Sood, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), HP Forest Department and Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director (ED), ISB-BIPP in the presence of Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister (CM) of HP.

Key Details of MoU:
Assessment: The forest resource inventory estimates an untapped economic potential of Rs.22,600 crore across five key bio-resources: amla (Rs.8,700 crore), pine needles (Rs.5,500 crore), wild mangoes (Rs.4,800 crore), sal seeds (Rs.2,400 crore), and rhododendron flowers (Rs.1,200 crore).
Coverage Areas: Focuses on four domains: forest economy & community enterprises, forest intelligence platform, grazing portal & pastoral database, and training & capacity building.
Implementation: The data is already integrated into the Palampur Forest Division’s working plan, the first such instance, and the MoU will progressively extend this model to other divisions, eventually covering the entire state.

Chhattisgarh Signs MoUs to Strengthen PM GatiShakti Implementation 
In August 2026,  Government of Chhattisgarh signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) and National Logistics Data Services Ltd (NLDSL)  to enhance geospatial technology and integrated logistics data usage under the Prime minister(PM) GatiShakti framework.

• The MoUs were signed during the PM GatiShakti & LEADS 2025 Dissemination Workshop held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Key Highlights of PM GatiShakti Implementation:  
Integration: The state onboarded 35+ departments, mapped 41 mandatory and 600+ additional data layers, and developed 45 use cases with 30 tools for data-driven infrastructure planning.
MoU with BISAG-N: The partnership with BISAG-N will strengthen the use of geospatial technology and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tools for integrated infrastructure and public-service planning.
MoU with NLDSL: The partnership with NLDSL will strengthen the use of integrated logistics data and analytics, enabling better logistics and supply-chain planning under the PM GatiShakti framework.
Development: The Chhattisgarh GEO Portal provides GIS scorecards, infrastructure gap analysis, GIS-enabled No Objection Certificate (NOC) systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based planning tools; the state also installed 600 mobile towers and allocated 700 acres in Nava Raipur under the Bhavya Scheme.
Recognition: Chhattisgarh was recognised as a high performer among landlocked states in the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025 assessment by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

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